New Jersey includes a highly questionable category of people who are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by Leah Barkoukis

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While many are relieved that COVID-19 vaccines have finally received the green light from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), states are rolling out their distribution programs in very different ways. And because supply is limited, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending groups they believe should be first, such as healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

As states begin to move into the next phases, many are questioning New Jersey’s decision to put smokers first – ahead of certain essential workers.

“Smoking puts you at significant risk for adverse outcomes from COVID-19 and there are 2 million smokers in New Jersey who fall into these categories,” said Judy Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, reports NJ.com.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced the expanded eligibility guidelines on Wednesday, saying anyone over the age of 65 or with specific health conditions can start signing up for the recall as early as Thursday, the outlet reported.

The conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, Down syndrome, severe obesity, type 2 diabetes and a host of other illnesses, the outlet reported.

With the expanded guidelines, about 4.47 million people, or about half of Garden State’s 9 million people, are now eligible to receive the vaccine, the outlet said – but that’s not like if anyone would need to prove.

“No documentation of medical condition or your age will be required,” Persichilli said, per NJ.com. (NY Post)

Many on social media criticized the move, while others began to joke that they were going to start smoking to be eligible.



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